Do As God Wishes Series

Theme: Do as he Wishes

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!

Compare the Translations:

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (NIV).

“16 Celebrate always, 17 Pray constantly, and 18 Give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.”) (The Voice).

“16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (The Message).

16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); 17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. ”(AMPB).

Introduction:

This section of the letter has a very beautiful construction of the sentences. Rejoice always, pray continually, and Give thanks in all circumstances. Paul continued to write and exhort the believers at Thessalonica to be Joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. These imperatives convey a human response toward God, recognition that God is the source of our joy and thanksgiving. Very memorable passage to read and easy to tell and remember at any time. These three precepts are easy when things are favorable and if everything goes well. But hard to practice at all times when things go wrong.

Paul exhorted Thessalonians to love God, act justly with everyone, and do the will of God with a grateful heart. No member in the congregation can be a lazy person and no one can sit idle in the congregation. Rejoicing, praying, giving thanks, discerning, and testing are the life of the believers. Paul emphasized a God-centered and action-oriented life. I wish we could have rejoiced a lot, pray often, and try to be thankful. God’s commandments in the Bible are beyond our ability to obey in the flesh, so we must rely on His indwelling Holy Spirit. All these are possible only when we are in Christ.

John Stott says that ‘these commands are not directed to us individually, but rather to the church regarding our public worship. It should be filled with joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.’ But I would like to say, ‘without doing it individually you can’t do it corporately.’ Matthew Henry says truly religious life is a life of constant joy. Our rejoicing is integrated with our prayer and praise. This is Christian perfection. We repeat them on a daily basis.

1. REJOICE ALWAYS

Is it possible to rejoice always, can we be upbeat and never feel sadness? No saint in the Bible rejoiced always. One person said that the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament is “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16), but another person said that the very shortest verse in the English New Testament is “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35).

We learn from the scriptures that Jesus prayed “with loud crying and tears” (Hebrews 5:7). Paul described himself as a man of sorrowful yet always rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10). He further said in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” So, rejoicing does not mean, denying your feelings, emotions, or outbursts, putting on a happy face, and never feeling sad. God brings sorrowful trials and discipline (Hebrews 12:11).

Maclaren says that there are two sources from which gladness may come, the one is circumstances of a pleasant and gladdening character, and the other is communion with God. Apostle James, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3). Paul wrote, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5). So, this command to rejoice always has to be viewed not primarily as a matter of feelings, but rather as an act of obedience and expression of Faith. Rejoicing always is a conscious attitude of contentment, hope, and happiness that comes from deliberately focusing on Christ and the eternal treasures that we have received freely from Him.

Disciples of Christ must cultivate the practice of the presence of God which leads to an overflow of joy. A wicked man rejoices in his wickedness, a hypocrite in his profession of religion, and the reputation he gains by it; and a legalist in his morality, civility, and obedience to the rituals of the law; for such rejoice in their boastings which are evil. But rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the greatness, fitness, fulness, and glory of his person, in his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice. Rejoice not in the things of this life, such as for a fitting physical body, for intellectual property, and for temporal blessings. But for that, your name is written in heaven, and you are redeemed by the blood of Christ, and called by his grace, and shall be glorified together with him, and shall live eternally (John Gill).